Charles Abel • Pinnacle Awards
“Understanding the frailties and strengths of the existing business is vital” Tony Turner, Pinnacle Judge and ADAS Senior Consultant
Pinnacle performers Farm business management skills were under intense scrutiny in the 2021 Pinnacle Awards judged in the Club this Autumn. Charles Abel reports RESPONDING to the challenges of declining support payments was a key theme in the 2021 Farmers Club Pinnacle Awards for farm business management students. Sponsored by the Cave Foundation and run with consultancy firm ADAS this prestigious competition drew entries from colleges and universities across the United Kingdom. Overall winner was Harry Davies of Harper Adams University, with Jacques Luckins of Bridgwater & Taunton College placed second and Rory Oliver from Newcastle University third. Coping with BPS cuts The competition champions realistic projects and people capable of driving rural businesses forwards in uncertain times, with the judges keen to see in-depth plans to help farms cope with Basic Payment cuts, backed by a strong awareness of cashflow, profit and capital, and how they link together. After a bit of a hiatus last year, caused by the covid pandemic, the awards returned to a more normal format this year,
16 • The Farmers Club Winter 2021
with interviews, presentations, an awards ceremony and celebration dinner all held in the Club in September. Jimmy McLean, Chair of the judging panel, commended the finalists for their dedication in a difficult year. “With studies disrupted, and students unable to meet farmers and lecturers face-to-face, this year’s projects have been more difficult to develop than usual. It really is a tremendous achievement to get to the finals.” The judging panel also included ADAS principal business consultant Tony Turner, Farmers Club Chairman and Kelso farmer Keith Redpath and Farmers Club Journal Editor Charles Abel. Key criteria for the awards are precise project reports, with a succinct explanation of the business case, backed by robust financial analysis. “Some of the home truths around declining support are going to be very difficult to swallow for many farm businesses, so projects do need to look at this and where we are going as an industry,” noted Mr Turner. The keenly contested competition saw ADAS draw up a shortlist of 8 entries from 15 submitted, with finalists interviewed in the Club in midSeptember. Choosing the winners was not easy, the judges deliberating for over an hour before arriving at a final decision. Clear covid impact The impact of covid was evident, highlighting the value of personal contact and site visits when developing business plans, noted Mr Redpath. “If you can’t see a farm and meet the farmer, you’re really working with one hand tied behind your back. It’s a tough ask to be given figures to work with, without access to the actual farm.” Uncertainty around the future of farming was another recurring theme. “There was an awareness of changes coming, especially reductions in Basic Payments, but frustration at the lack of detail,” noted Mr McLean.
